Stoke vs Arsenal

The penultimate weekend of the 2016/17 Premier League season is upon us but there are still a number of vital outcomes yet to be decided. Chelsea have one hand on the league title but need to win at West Brom on Friday night to win a fifth PL title with two games to spare, while Everton play their final home game of the year on Friday night too, as they welcome Watford to Goodison Park.

Manchester City will look to keep their top four chances intact when they host Leicester in Saturday’s early kickoff before Arsenal travel to Stoke in the late game, hoping to keep the pressure on Liverpool and City in the race for Champions League football next term. Swansea travel to Sunderland on Saturday as they look to stay ahead of Hull in the race for survival, who face a tricky test at Crystal Palace in a crucial clash on Sunday.

Also on Sunday, Liverpool travel to West Ham before Spurs battle Manchester United in the final game ever to be played at White Hart Lane before Tottenham’s new stadium is completed over the next 12 months. Read on for all our predictions this weekend…

Everton 2-0 Watford

Everton already have their place in next season’s Europa League confirmed and can’t finish any lower than seventh place. That said, they’ll still be expecting to end the season on a high and will want to win their final home game of the campaign. Watford have lost three on the spin without scoring a goal. They only need a point to be mathematically safe from the drop, although relegation doesn’t look likely now anyway. Everton should have enough to win this one.

West Brom 0-2 Chelsea

Chelsea to win their 5th Premier League title on Friday evening. On the basis of their performances this season it will be deserved. West Brom look like a side who know they’ve achieved their maximum this season and they have been good value for their place in the top half of the table. Antonio Conte will want his side to get the job done early in this one so they can enjoy some celebrations before their attentions can turn to the FA Cup final at the end of the season.

Man City 3-1 Leicester

Manchester City need to do what they did to Crystal Palace last week and blow Leicester away to all but guarantee their place in next season’s Champions League. City can pile the pressure on Arsenal and Liverpool with a win in Saturday’s early kickoff, and even though Leicester would love to complete the double of Guardiola’s men, they are unlikely to beat them given the fact they’ve only won one of their last four away games in the league.

Bournemouth 2-2 Burnley

A score draw looks a likely result for this one. Bournemouth. The Cherries are unbeaten in three, scoring seven goals along the way. Burnley have surely now done enough to avoid a late scare of relegation, but with one win in five it seems unlikely they will pick up three points this weekend.

Middlesbrough 1-1 Southampton

Middlesbrough are already relegated but will want to reward their fans for their support by winning their last home game of the season now the pressure has eased on them. Southampton have been coasting for weeks, winning none of their last five and are unlikely to spring into life now. With little to play for, this has draw written all over it.

Sunderland 1-1 Swansea

Sunderland fans must have been in further despair last weekend as they saw their side pick up an unlikely 2-0 win away at Hull City, leaving many wondering why they hadn’t been able to do that before their relegation was confirmed. Swansea are still right in the middle of the relegation dogfight and this is going to be a huge game. They cannot afford to lose and the nerves will surely set in.

Stoke 1-3 Arsenal

Arsenal have found their traditional late-season form at last. They have won back-to-back games over the past week and are still in with a chance of securing a top four place, depending on Liverpool and Man City’s results over the final week of the campaign. Stoke would love to win their home finale, but Arsenal need this more.

Crystal Palace 1-1 Hull

Another huge game in the battle to avoid the drop. Crystal Palace were on the receiving end of a classy City performance last weekend, losing 5-0 and that result has left them in trouble. It’s three losses on the spin for Big Sam’s Palace and they cannot afford to lose this weekend. Hull will be even more desperate to get a positive result after that defeat to Sunderland. A draw doesn’t do either side many favours but still keeps their fight alive.

West Ham 1-3 Liverpool

Liverpool visit West Ham as they continue to battle to keep their place in the top four. If results go against them they could find themselves back in 5th which would be a disastrous end to the season. Jurgen Klopp will not let his side make any mistakes this weekend but considering how West Ham performed against Spurs in a game that had little meaning to their season this could be another difficult visit for the away side.

Spurs 2-0 Manchester United

Chelsea might have secured the Premier League title way before Spurs kick off against Man Utd on Sunday but it’s a massive occasion for Tottenham as they play their final game at White Hart Lane in what will be an emotional afternoon. Manchester United would love to spoil the party but they had a tough game on Thursday night, in which they secured their place in the Europa League Final. That might have left them tired and so Spurs should be able to break them down and get a win in their final game at the Lane.

Arsenal have suffered a whole host of injuries over the last few years and this term has been no different. Star players like Santi Cazorla and Alexis Sanchez have been on the sidelines for extended periods of time and the Gunners are perhaps starting to struggle without them, having only won two of their last four.

They came from behind twice to lead at Anfield on Wednesday night but a late Joe Allen goal saw the game finish 3-3. Arsene Wenger will have been disappointed with that result and will need to try and rally his troops for what is always a tough trip to the Britannia for Arsenal.

Importantly, they last beat Stoke away in the league in February 2010, which is quite astonishing for a big club like Arsenal.

It is well documented that this is Arsenal’s best chance of a title in years and the injury-stricken Gunners will need every point to win the coveted Premier League crown in what looks set to be a tight title race until the last gasp.

The reverse fixture between the two at the Emirates ended 2-0 to Arsenal, with goals from Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud sealing three points for the Gunners in September.

Team News

Stoke City may be without Stephen Ireland, Marc Muniesa and Geoff Cameron, who are all doubtful. Jon Walters is supposedly out with a knee injury and Ryan Shawcross is set to be out for three months with a back injury.

Arsenal are without Jack Wilshere, who is still suffering with a leg injury. Tomas Rosicky, Danny Welbeck, Francois Coquelin and Santi Cazorla are all out with knee injuries. Alexis Sanchez is nearing a return after a long spell on the sidelines and could make the squad here.

Key Points

Stoke City’s last five: L/W/W/L/W

Arsenal’s last five: W/L/W/W/D

Key Stat: Stoke City are unbeaten in their last five matches against Arsenal in all competitions.

Key Player: Mesut Ozil – The silky German has been quiet recently but has been sensational this season. Arsenal need him to regain his consistency if they are to win the title this term.